📝 TOPIK Beginner Grammar: 10 Essential Korean Grammar Points You Need to Master Your First Semester

You’ve conquered the 500 essential TOPIK vocabulary words. Congratulations! But words alone don’t make a sentence. Grammar is the glue that allows you to express thoughts, ask questions, and handle daily situations in Korea. Without it, you’re just reading a dictionary.

This guide breaks down the 10 most crucial Korean grammar points required for the TOPIK I (Level 1 and Level 2) examination. These are the foundations of almost every Korean sentence you will encounter or need to create. Mastering these points is the fastest way to feel confident about your speaking and writing skills.

Detailed notes on 10 essential Korean grammar points

1. The Sentence Structure: SOV (Subject-Object-Verb)

The first rule of Korean grammar is that it's different from English. While English uses Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), Korean uses Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). The verb *always* comes last. Mastering this structure is non-negotiable.

💡 Example

English: I (S) eat (V) Kimchi (O).

Korean: 저는 (S) 김치를 (O) 먹어요 (V).

2. Particles (Postpositions): Markers of Function (이/가, 은/는, 을/를)

Unlike English, which uses word order, Korean uses particles (postpositions) attached to nouns to indicate their function in the sentence (Subject, Object, Topic). This is the area where beginners make the most mistakes.

2.1. Topic vs. Subject (은/는 vs. 이/가)

은/는 (Eun/Neun) marks the Topic (what you are talking about). 이/가 (I/Ga) marks the Subject (the one performing the action, often emphasizing it).

2.2. Object Marker (을/를)

을/를 (Eul/Reul) attaches to the object of the verb.

3. Informal Polite Ending: -아요 / -어요 / -여요 (-ayo / -eoyo / -yeoyo)

This is the default, most common way to end sentences in daily Korean conversation (the "Yo" form). It is used for questions and statements in the present tense, and is essential for TOPIK I.

If the verb stem ends in a vowel other than ㅏ or ㅗ, use -어요. (Ex: 먹다 → 먹어요)
If the verb stem ends in ㅏ or ㅗ, use -아요. (Ex: 가다 → 가요)
If the verb stem is 하다, it changes to -해요 (여요). (Ex: 공부하다 → 공부해요)

4. Formal Polite Ending: -습니다 / -ㅂ니다 (-seumnida / -mnida)

The formal ending is crucial in institutional settings (like a university or in a visa interview) and on the TOPIK I exam. It conveys respect and formality.

If the verb stem ends in a vowel, use -ㅂ니다. (Ex: 가다 → 갑니다)
If the verb stem ends in a consonant, use -습니다. (Ex: 먹다 → 먹습니다)

5. Past Tense: -았어요 / -었어요 (-asseoyo / -eosseoyo)

To talk about the past, you add a past tense marker (ㅆ) before the polite ending (-어요). The vowel combination rule is the same as the present tense (-아요/어요).

💡 Language Fact: The Two Forms of "To Be"

Korean has two separate words for "to be": 이다 (ida) to mean "is/are" (used for identification, e.g., I am a student) and 있다 (itda) to mean "is/are/exist" (used for location or possession, e.g., A book is on the desk).

6. Connecting Verbs: -고 (and / and then)

The simplest way to connect two verbs or actions is using -고 (-go). It indicates either simple connection (A and B) or sequential action (A, and then B).

7. Ability and Inability: -을 수 있다 / 없다 (-eul su itda / eopda)

Used to express capability ("can do") or lack of capability ("cannot do").

8. Desire: -고 싶다 (-go sipda)

A simple marker placed after a verb stem to express "I want to do [verb]".

9. Asking Questions: Simply Adding a Question Mark (?)

In polite Korean, you often don't need to change the word order for questions. Simply raising the intonation and adding a question mark to the polite ending (-요 or -ㅂ니다) is enough.

10. Giving a Reason: -아/어서 (-a/eoseo)

This links two clauses, where the first clause is the reason for the second clause (Because A, B happens). Note that the past tense marker ㅆ cannot be used with this ending.

📚 Internal Link: Avoid Beginner Pitfalls

Understanding these basic points is crucial, but knowing where most students fail can save you months of confusion. Read our guide on common errors:

[MUST READ] Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Korean Grammar (Particles, Tenses, and More)

Real-Life Practice Dialogue: Weekend Plans 💬

See how grammar points 3, 5, 6, and 8 combine in a simple conversation between two university students (A and B).

Dialogue

A: 어제 뭐 했어요? (Eoje mwo haesseoyo?)

(What did you do yesterday?)

B: 친구하고 밥을 먹고, 영화를 봤어요. 오늘은 쉬고 싶어요. (Chingu-hago bab-eul meokgo, yeonghwa-reul bwasseoyo. Oneureun swigo sipeoyo.)

(I ate rice with my friend and then watched a movie. Today, I want to rest.)

Quick Quiz: Apply the Grammar 💯

Fill in the blank with the correct particle or ending.

❓ Grammar Test

저는 학생( ) 아닙니다. (I am not a student.)
커피( ) 마십니다. (I drink coffee.)
내일 시장에 갈 수 ( ). (I can go to the market tomorrow.)

Show Answers

1. 저는 학생이 아닙니다. (Subject particle)

2. 커피를 마십니다. (Object particle)

3. 내일 시장에 갈 수 있어요. (Ability/Existence)

🗣️ Grammar Understood. Now Get Confident Speaking!

You know the rules, but putting them into fluid, real-time speech requires practice. Don't let your knowledge stay trapped in a notebook.

As your specialist tutor on Italki, I focus on correcting particle usage and sentence structure in rapid conversation drills. Stop translating in your head and start speaking automatically.

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(Start speaking Korean with flawless grammar before your flight.)